Sunday, January 21, 2007

Microsoft eyed Apple in '03

No major surprises here, but it's interesting that the discovery process for an unrelated legal context is dredging up this stuff.

Of course, Apple would have refused to support Windows Media Player anyway, so it's moot.

Microsoft, displeased with hardware partners Creative Technology Ltd. and Dell Inc., which made players using Microsoft's Windows Media software, talked about building its own device, according to an e-mail exchange between Windows chief Jim Allchin and media software executive Amir Majidimehr. The correspondence, which was introduced into evidence in a civil antitrust trial against Microsoft in Des Moines, Iowa, was made public Friday.

Allchin, who started the exchange in an e-mail titled "sucking on media players," also suggested that he talk to Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs to get the iPod to work with Microsoft's media software for fear the iPod would "drive people away from Windows Media Player." Microsoft introduced its music player, Zune, in November.